Utah proposes new four-Congressperson plan

“I believe it is an uphill battle, but Utah is not standing in the way,” said Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will “absolutely” sign the new four-seat law, his spokesman, Mike Mower, said.

Should Congress not act this week, Utah leaders said the state will still be ready with a better four-seat option when — or if — Congress gives the state another seat before the 2010 census.

But hope springs eternal, especially in politics.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democratic delegate who represents the District of Columbia in the House, said giving up on the bill is not an option and Monday’s action by the Utah Legislature will help push the bill along.

“Utah has shown that the state wants this vote this week as much as D.C. does,” Norton said. “My Republican and Democratic congressional allies and D.C. residents alike are further energized to do what it takes as Utah passes the baton to us to run this race to the finish line and pass this bill before Congress adjourns this week.”

Ilir Zherka, executive director of DC Vote, an advocacy group for voting rights for DC residents, said the bill could to the House floor without going through the committee, saving precious time.

As we saw before, the tradeoff of an extra Utah seat for a Washington, DC seat had led to some complaints by Utah Republicans that they were in effect giving the Democrats a permanent new seat in exchange for getting that fourth seat two years early. Apparently, that was no enough to sink the effort.